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"Old vs New. Pre 1998 Eels best team wearing the original Gold Jerseys vs post 1998 Eels best team wearing today's Blue jersey. The best from both eras playing against each other in a virtual stadium online. Jack Gibson coaching Gold, Brian Smith…"
"He played 134 of his 264 games as a winger. Didnt complain once like a Lomax when required on the wing. Was a team man through and through. He deserves to be in the Modern Day Best Eels team somewhere. Perhaps now that we have 6 interchange players…"
" I understand the modern day theory. It has to be the players that would work in the modern day game, But the theory should include how a player from the say 80s would perform given the modern day technology and training regime.
You cant simply…"
You cant simply…"
"Sorry should have clarified, 1998 NRL era.
I stuck to what i knew best. I love Luke Burt, still my favourite ever player, hence the dp. He didn't have that flashy skills like Hayne and was undersized but to accomplish 260+ games is an achievement…"
I stuck to what i knew best. I love Luke Burt, still my favourite ever player, hence the dp. He didn't have that flashy skills like Hayne and was undersized but to accomplish 260+ games is an achievement…"
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He was awesome.
I reckon we could have won a competition on his shoulders. He was so quick for a huge man, and skillful.
I remember he played in a trial against St George at Parra Stadium, he returned the ball from the kick off and burst straight through their line. Of all the super league signings that year he was the one I was most excited about.
What a talent.
He also said that it was the 14 subsequent surgeries that left him the way he now is and that they expected the cyst to be drained and him back playing footy a few weeks later.
Not sure it was a tumour??
Yes, agree. He was a good bloke and a tough bugger for someone so young; v sad what occurred to Ritso. That was one of my favourite era's besides early 80's as we bought Canterbury big 4 (who were genuine good players) and Ritson and also Raper. Great memories but v sad and hope he is having some good quality of life.
The tackle from Lomax was a shocker, but, it was actually credited with saving Ritsons life.
Ritson had not had any indications of problems, but when he was sent for Xray/scans following the tackle it revealed the tumour and was told he would never play again. IIRC, the medicos at the time said that had it not been discovered when it was, Ritson would have likely suffered a severe brain seizure and would not have recovered. I don't reccolect the time frame that was given him had he had a seizure but it was not that long and would have been fatal.
Definitely a sad story and did not see it, yet I understand he has had problems over the years but at least he's alive and thankfull that a bad head high saved his life.
Pretty sad to hear he spoke to a person with the same type of cyst live a full normal life not knowing it was there.
A good kid when he came across to the Eels with huge amount of untapped potential. It was a pre-existing condition that he had, the Lomax tackle whilst very ugly by today's standards probably actually saved this kids life and his condition was then diagnosed.